Like other urban centers on the Algarve coast, Armação de Pêra developed from a small fishing community. The 1st known written reference dates back to 1577 in the work Corografia do Reino do Algarve, by Fr. João de São José who, when describing the village of Pêra, observes the following:

«Pera is a place near Alcantarilha, not far from the sea. [...\\]. In front of it is the beautiful beach on the south side, on which is a tuna trap called the Armação de Pera.” (S. JOSÉ, imp. 1983, p. 58).

As early as 1577 there would be a small community of fishermen seasonally or permanently established in this territory, dedicated to tuna fishing.

In 1667, for demographic, economic or both reasons, a small fortress was built in which, with its military garrison, it reinforced the human presence in Armação de Pêra.

In 1755, there was a tidal wave and Armação de Pêra was left with only one house standing (LOPES, 1989 [2nd ed.\\], p. 290). The scholar of fisheries in Portugal, Constantino Botelho de Lacerda Lobo, in his memoir on the state of the Algarve fisheries in 1790, writes about Pêra de Santo António (a term that designated Armação de Pêra at the time).

In the year 1790, there were 150 fishermen, who worked in the tuna trap during the appropriate time of this fishing, there were eight boats, which they only used for fishing on that coast, in each of which 8 or 10 fishermen went, and the others usually stay ashore to haul the devices.

Between 1790 and 1841 Armação de Pêra changed from a group of huts to a village of masonry houses, a fact that may indicate an increase in the economic power of its inhabitants and the consequent increase in the quality of life. Also in these 50 years, tuna fishing was stopped as was the case in 1577, 1621 and 1790.

In 1841, Armação de Pêra was already prefigured as a bathing destination «because many people come here to bathe in the sea».

Armação de Pêra appears within the Municipality of Silves, rich in historical heritage and of extreme importance for the contextualization of social life in this village.

The oldest origins of this village date back to the Arab period, but most historians often make historical reference to this village and its Roman heritage.

However, “...the lack of documentation and historical traces have not provided an adequate investigation into the history of Armação de Pêra”, as can be read in the bill that approved the elevation of Armação de Pêra to the category of village.

Despite the lack of documents proving its origins, historians are unanimous on a point that seems fundamental to us: the connection of this village to the sea.

This connection allows us, from the outset, to relate a village that blends in with the sea, with the characteristics inherent to its fishing condition, standing out from the neighboring Alcantarilha and Pêra whose wealth was reduced to agriculture.

In 1571, the fortification of the Fort of Santo António da Pedra da Galé, known today as the Fortress of Armação de Pêra, is attributed for defense. It is assumed that this fortification emerged under the ruins of a Luso-Roman military center, destined to the defense of Foz da Ribeira de Alcantarilha. It is also believed that the construction of this fortification has contributed to the encouragement of fishing activities, with a strong increase in both fishing and agricultural activity, especially with regard to nuts.

Around 1720, a hermitage was built inside the fortress in invocation of the patron saint of the fort. This chapel has survived to the present day and is now known as the Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos.

With the emergence of tourism in the Algarve, Armação de Pêra benefits from considerable development, as it is recognized as one of the best seaside resorts in the Algarve.

In this village, one of the first and most modern casinos of the time was built.

With the influx of tourism, Armação de Pêra became frequented not only by the upper class, but also by people from the middle and lower middle classes.

Today the village of Armação de Pêra has an approximate resident population of 7000 inhabitants.

However, in the middle of August, it reaches a population of around 80,000 inhabitants due to the large influx of holidaymakers.

Armação de Pêra remains a village facing the sea. The main economic activity nowadays has become tourism, being the main source of income, not only for the town, but also for the municipality of Silves.